Brandon Sommers #784

Brandon Sommers captured the GNCC XC2 class championship in 2007 and moved up to the XC1 class in 2008.  Racing for Team Yamaha, he finished an impressive fifth place in his first XC1 Pro season in 2008 and again in 2009.  He’s competing in the pro class again this year aboard the new YFZ450X.

Sommers grew up riding three-wheelers and dirt bikes brought home from his dad's local motorsports store.  Mr. Sommers encouraged his son's hobby but said “no to racing” until Brandon became an adult. As soon as Sommers turned 18, his dad became one of his sponsors and biggest supporters as he tried his hand at motocross racing. The father-son team’s attempt at two-wheeled racing was short-lived -- once Sommers threw a leg over an ATV he was hooked.

Sommers' first ATV race was the Buddy-Up Cross Country Series in 2003. He started out going full-throttle and ended up with arm pump early in the race, forcing him to slow his speeds a little. Then he got stuck in a mud hole for 20 minutes before someone could pull him out. Not the best start for an aspiring racer, but that didn't deter Sommers – he went on to be one of the best amateur racers around.

Sommers started training in the beginners C-class in 2003, moving up one class each year as he won championship after championship. In 2007, he won 10 nationals before signing with Yamaha to begin his professional racing career.

Watch for Brandon on his Yamaha YFZ450X in the 2010 GNCC Series and select other races across the country.

RIDER PROFILE
Brandon Sommers #784
Age 26
Hometown Millersburg, OH
Current Residency Millersburg, OH
Height 5’7”
Weight 145 lbs.
Year Turned Pro 2008
Training Bicycling, running, riding
Favorite Track Ironman GNCC
Favorite Obstacle Jumps and log crossings
Favorite Music Country
Favorite Food Eggs
First Race BUCCS, 2003
Hobbies Anything competitive and eating.
Marital Status Single
Sponsors Yamaha Motor Corporation, GT Thunder, GYTR, Maxxis, HLS, Fly, Fasst, Precision, Tire-Balls, Hiper, Prographx, Wiseco